Microbial Rosetta Stone Central Agricultural Database: A database for high consequence plant pathogens

Plant pathogens, if used as agents of biowarfare, bioterrorism or biocrime, could have a serious impact on the U.S. food supply, environment and society. The Microbial Rosetta Stone (MRS) Central, a database developed for use by federal investigators, contains key information on high priority pathogens of humans and animals. The goal of this work was to select and provide curated information for 100 high consequence plant pathogens for the establishment of a MRS Central Agricultural Database. Plant pathogens were chosen based on their potential for damage to U.S agricultural and natural ecosystems, then-inclusion on several existing plant pathogen threat lists and their recommendation by experts in the American Phytopathological Society's Microbial Forensics Interest Group (representing academia, government and industry). Information on these pathogens was collected using a multiple database search and keyword curation was performed for categories of taxonomy, synonyms, symptoms, detection and diagnosis, laboratory and field protocols, sample collection, geographic distribution, plant hosts, insect vectors and epidemiology. The resulting MRS Central Agricultural Database links curated data for high consequence plant pathogens and important plant diseases to relevant scientific literature and internet resources, thereby providing law enforcement, forensic and intelligence communities with an additional tool to counteract agricultural emergencies.